Cynisca, The First Woman In Greece to Win An Olympic Chariot Race

Cynisca was the sister of Agesilaus II, a king of Sparta from about 400 to 360 BCE. Agesilaus was known to help his friends, even if it required corrupt action, so when his sister, Cynisca, became passionate about horse breeding and chariot racing, the king gave her patronage and support.

Driven by her ambition and backed by her family’s wealth, the Spartan princess created one of the most talented horse breeding and training programs in 4th-century Greece. Her chariot teams won glory in the Olympic Games of 396 and 392 BCE, making her the first woman in recorded Greek history to own a victorious Olympic chariot team. The historians, Plutarch (c. 50-120 CE) and Pausanias (143-176 CE), both wrote of her successes. Plutarch’s account presented her only as the trainer and owner of the chariot teams, with no role in the physical operation of the vehicles. Pausanias was more vague in his wording, with a general statement that she won victories at the Olympics. Yet, he, too, did not explicitly credit her with the act of driving the chariot during the race. Nevertheless, she was honored with a statue and a stone inscription at Olympia for her accomplishments. The inscribed stone base still survives today and is on display at the Museum of the Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece.

Written by C. Keith Hansley.

Picture Attribution: (The Chariot Race in the Circus Maximus, by Alfredo Tominz (1854–1936), [Public Domain] via Creative Commons).

Sources:

• On Sparta (Life of Agesilaus), by Plutarch excerpted from his Parallel Lives, translated by Richard J. A. Talbert. New York: Penguin Classics, 2005.
• http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.%203.8.1&lang=original 
• http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Paus.%203.8.1&lang=original 
• http://www.open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/world-changing-women-cynisca 
• https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/cynisca-fl-396-392-bce 
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pausanias-Greek-geographer 
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Plutarch  

Is There A Linguistic Legacy From Falconry?

(Illustration from the Falconry Book of Frederick II, c. 1240s, [Public Domain] via Creative Commons and the Vatican Library)

Falconry, a complex form of sport and hunting, is thought to have existed long before the earliest eras of recorded history. The art of falconry, sometimes called hawking, is estimated to have been developed around the third millennium BCE. Some of the earliest depictions of falconers can be found on Hittite stelae dating back to the 13th century BCE, though some people believe falconry may even be depicted in cave paintings from far older times. While falconry seemed to have always been popular among cultures in the Middle East and the central Asian steppes, Europeans were introduced to the sport at a much later time. Centuries of crusades, beginning in 1096 CE, exposed the method of hunting to armies of crusaders and Christian nobles, who brought the sport back home with them to Europe. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (thankfully shortened to UNESCO) formally included falconry in their list of Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity on November 16, 2010.

Falconry has declined in popularity since ancient and medieval times, but falconry clubs and organizations still exist, and many countries provide access to falconry licenses. Another interesting legacy left behind by falconry is a list of everyday English sayings that are thought to have been derived from the sport. The phrase, “fed up,” supposedly originated from the behavior of falcons that had eaten and were content on a full stomach—therefore; the lethargic birds disobeyed orders and ignored their falconers. Having somebody “wrapped around your finger” allegedly referenced the act of a falconer wrapping the string or cord attached to a falcon around his finger, thereby giving the hunter more control over the bird. Similarly, having somebody “under your thumb” is thought to reference a falconer keeping the cord of a bird under his thumb, preventing it from flying away. So, even if you have never witnessed or even heard of falconry, the sport has likely had more of an impact on your life than you may know.

Written by C. Keith Hansley.

Sources:

• https://www.britannica.com/sports/falconry

• http://www.n-a-f-a.com/?page=History

• http://www.n-a-f-a.com/?page=What_is_Falconry

• http://www.pbs.org/falconer/falconry/

• https://www.americanfalconry.com/beginners.html

Theodore Roosevelt, Despite His Immense Athleticism, Suffered From Asthma

(Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in military uniform, c. 1898, photographed by George Gardner Rockwood [Public Domain-US] via Creative Commons)

Theodore Roosevelt may easily be ranked as one of the most athletic presidents of the United States. Among his many physical activities, he hunted, ranched and soldiered in the army as a ‘Rough Rider.’ He also boxed, learned gymnastics and lifted weights.

Despite his impressive athletic resume, Theodore Roosevelt was sickly as a child, and was plagued by asthma. The ailment, however, did not dampen Theodore’s athleticism—quite the opposite, the asthma inspired him to pursue an athletic lifestyle. All of the strength and cardio training allowed Roosevelt to improve his body’s constitution and largely nullify the effects of his asthma.

Source:

• The Roosevelts: An Intimate History by Ken Burns (PBS Documentary), available on Netflix.